Portable dark room or cabinet.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

B. W. STEWART. PORTABLE DARK ROOM OR CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1904.

BM/cwar N0 IODEL.

i bars 4 to fold inwardly.

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT Ormes.

PORTABLE DARK ROOM OR CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,030, dated August 30, 1904.

Application lled May 9, 1904. Serial No. 207,113. (No model.)

T0 (all whom, it muy concern.-

Beit known that I, BRADY VVILLsoN Srnw- ART, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county ot' Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Dark Rooms or Cabinets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in portable dark rooms or developing-cabinets.

The object of the invention is to provide a dark room or cabinet for developing' negative photograph-plates which may be quickly folded or collapsed into a small package.

A `further object is to provide a dark roomor cabinet of this character which will be simple in construction, strong and durable, etticicnt, inexpensive, and well adapted to the purpose.

IVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspective viewotl the cabinet, showing the same in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame with the covering material removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalv view oi' Fig. I. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view oi' the same; .and Fig. 5 is a side view of the cabinet, showing the same in folded position.

Referring' more particularly to the drawings, I denotes the frame of the dark room or cabinet, the iront and rear ends of said frame being formed ot' open rectangular Jframes 2 and 3, which are connected together by upper and lower pairs of longitudinally-disposed bars I and 5. Said bars are formed in two sections hinged midway their ends, as at 6, to fold inwardly. The outer ends of the upper bars 4 are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the vertical side bars of the end frames, as at 7, thereby permitting the sections of the The outer ends of the lower bars 5 are hinged to the lower crossbars of the end frames, as at 8, the position of the bars 5 being inside the planes of the upper bars 4C, 4so that when said bars are folded inwardly they will not interfere with each other. On the inner hinged ends ot' the rear sections of the upper cross-bars are pivoted latch-hooks 9, the free ends of which are adapted to be turned up into engagement with catches IO, secured to the adjacent inner ends oi' the front sections of the bars A, whereby when the i'rame I is in an upright position and the bars A straightened they may be locked against folding, thereby holding the frame in an operative position. On the front frame 2 is arranged a board l2, which forms the front end of the cabinet. In the board l2 is formed a doorway 13, which is normally closed by a door I4, slidably mounted in guides I5, sc-

oured to the outer edges of the board l2. In

the door 12 is arranged an opening 1Q", covered by a ruby glass I6, so that when the door 14 is closed the doorway will be covered by the ruby glass I6 in the door. On the rear frame 3 is arranged a board 17, which forms the rear end oi' the cabinet. In this board is formed an opening I8, covered by a ruby glass 19. The opening 18 is ona lower plane than the opening l2 in the front end of the cabinet. l

The sides, top, and bottom of the cabinet are closed by a covering of rubber, cloth, or

other light-prooil fabric, the edges of which have a light-proof connection with the edges of the end boards of the cabinet. In the side walls of the fabric covering near the front end of the cabinet are formed hand or arm holes 20, to the edges of which are connected the inner ends of sleeves QI, the outer ends of which are provided with elastic bands by which said ends of the sleeves may be engaged with the arms of the operator by lighttight connections.

In operation the cabinet is placed so that its rear end is toward a window or light, which light enters the cabinet through the ruby glass at this end. The door 14 is now opened and the trays of developingmaterial, together with the holders or rolls containing the undeveloped plates or films, are placed inside the cabinet. yThe door I4 is then closed, after IOO which the operator inserts his hands and arms through the sleeves 2l and holes 2O in the sides ot' the box, and by looking through the ruby glass in the front end ot' the cabinet the operator may see to develop the plates and may observe the progress of development without danger of exposing' the plates to the outside light.

A dark room or cabinet constructed as herein described will be found to be convenient and practical and when not in use may be folded in a small package which can be readily transported or stored when not in use.

From the foregoing' description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrilicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A 'photographic developing-cabinet, consisting of a supporting-frame, comprising front and rear end frames, inwardly-folding longitudinal bars hinged to said end frames, means for holding said bars in an open or unfolded position, front and rear end boards, secured to said frame,said front end board being provided with a doorway, a door arranged to close said doorway, a flexible covering surrounding' said frameand provided with sleeves to receive the arms of the operator, and means whereby the operations within said cabinet may be observed by the operator without the admission of actinic rays to the cabinet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereot` I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRADY l/VILLSON STEWART. l/Vitnesses:

H; C. STEWART,

J. P. FLEMING, J r. 

